not suggesting adding niacin to statins?

Recent meta-analysis this January, 2013 suggests benefit of adding niacin to existing therapy to further alter lipid levels looking at current data available (11 trials, n=~10000).

The AIM-HIGH (n=3500, established CV disease) showed no benefit for hard end points (ex. first event of the composite of death from coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome, or symptom-driven coronary or cerebral revascularization.)



Lavigne PM, Karas RH.The current state of niacin in cardiovascular disease prevention: a systematic review and meta-regression. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Jan 29;61(4):440-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.10.030. Epub 2012 Dec 19. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23265337?dopt=Abstract

The AIM-HIGH Investigators. Niacin in Patients with Low HDL Cholesterol Levels Receiving Intensive Statin Therapy. N Engl J Med 2011; 365:2255-2267. Available from: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1107579